BarCamp makes Louis’ Saskatoon’s tech hotspot

On Oct. 16 Louis’ played host to the annual Saskatoon technology “meeting of the minds.” The event, known as BarCamp Saskatoon, is a yearly who’s who of people in Saskatoon technology.

Open to anyone interested, BarCamp Saskatoon included people from all corners of the city’s technology scene — developers, publishers, students and end users. The 147 registered participants included key decision makers from Saskatoon technology companies including Zu.com, Point 2 and Vecima Networks, among others.

Along with social and networking opportunities, the event featured a number of talks about everything from the future of TV to digital ecosystems. The “fUnemployment” presentation discussed how best to prepare for periods of lay-offs in the technology industry.

“Job security is rare these days, especially in the tech world,” said presenter Dave Kellow. “Always be prepared.”

Kim Schmidt, the other fUnemployment presenter, talked about finding jobs during her unemployment by using social media.

“Twitter helped me get freelance gigs that paid pretty well from friends, so luckily the Twitterverse is useful.”

In another chat, Dave Mosher talked about the future of independent video game developers while demonstrating the game Minecraft, which allows users to build constructions with textured cubes in a 3D world.

“The big developers have to be sequel focused because they have to worry about keeping shareholders happy; the small guys [get to] take risks these days.”

Mosher added that independent developers should continue to focus on the same things as Minecraft: giving users a fun and interactive platform to express themselves without constraint.

Interactive consultant Ginger Koolick ran BarCamp with the help of a small army of volunteers, following in the footsteps of a popular international movement.

BarCamps originated after Foo Camp, a tech-industry meeting by invite only. “A bunch of people who were not invited took offence to that and started an open conference movement,” Koolick explained, “and from there it just grew and grew and now there are BarCamps all over the world.”

BarCamp attendees are likely to be among the top one percentile of Internet users in the world, but they proved that they still know how to have fun in person. In an industry driven by electronics, instant global communication and the next big innovation, it was remarkably refreshing to see a group of powerful minds gathered in person to co-operate and share ideas on emerging trends in a comfortable atmosphere. Establishing a sense of community in a relatively small industry is an essential goal for BarCamp Saskatoon and its participants.

“It’s important to us to at least have an opportunity to all get together to get to know each other,” said Koolick, who emphasized the value of industry events to newcomers trying to get themselves out there. And in true Saskatchewan style, attendees gathered for a fun afternoon of collaboration and celebration which (as you may have guessed by now) was capped by a less constructive but equally anticipated event known only as BeerCamp.

A male subject was caught stealing from the Mac’s Convenience Store in Lower Place Riel on Dec. 12. The theft was verified by surveillance footage, and all information was relayed to the Saskatoon Police Service for action.

Stolen vehicle:Click to expand

On Dec. 13, members of Protective Services were surprised to witness a vehicle leaving Aird Street and Cumberland Avenue South at high speed. The vehicle accelerated toward College Drive, where it drove on the grass by the Stadium Parkade and then left, westbound on the wrong side of the road. Officers called off their pursuit and contacted the Saskatoon Police Service, who stated they had been tracking the vehicle all night, as it had been stolen. No one on campus was injured.

Power breakers shut off:Click to expand

Sometime on Dec. 16, two males were suspected of shutting off all of the breakers near Moose Lounge in Saskatchewan Hall. Although images of the suspects were caught on surveillance footage, anyone with information should contact Protective Services.

Possession of stolen property:Click to expand

On Jan. 9, officers stopped a suspicious individual on a bicycle near the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the individual was in possession of a stolen bicycle and was wanted for warrants with the police. The bicycle was seized by Protective Services and returned to its owner.

Broken ceiling tile:Click to expand

Residence custodians reported on Jan. 14 that a ceiling tile had been purposefully broken on the second floor of Saskatchewan Hall. Anyone with information regarding this damage should contact Protective Services or Residence Services.

Laptop theft:Click to expand

Two laptops were stolen from Arts Room 48 on the evening of Jan. 23. Both laptops were detached forcibly from their security cables, which would have resulted in damage to the body and casing of each laptop. Both are described as black Lenovo T440p laptops. Anyone with information is advised to contact Protective Services.

Broken door glass:Click to expand

Officers were dispatched to Pine Hall to investigate damage to the front doors of the building on Jan. 27. Surveillance cameras in the area identified a male subject, who had kicked the door several times, causing it to break. Upon arrival, officers were able to identify the individual, who had sustained injuries as a result of the related mischief.

Vehicle hits fire hydrant:Click to expand

Protective Services received a call regarding a vehicle that was stuck near Veterinary Road on Jan. 28. A tow truck was contacted to assist with the removal of the vehicle. It was then discovered that the vehicle was caught on the remains of a fire hydrant, which had been sheared off during the collision. The U of S Grounds Department was able to isolate the hydrant, so the vehicle could be removed without concern.